WOS, SLCT Present “Seussical”

Oh, the thinks you can think if you're willing to try! Second graders at William O. Schaefer Elementary School this week not only tried, but excelled during their Stage Left Children's Theater (SLCT) productions of "Seussical" — proving that a performer's a performer...no matter how small. 

"The things that your school is encouraging in terms of how kids connect their education and lives to the arts are really built into the District," said SLCT Teaching Artist Andrea Seigel to our audience members. "What's fabulous about the version of the program that we do in second grade is that we don't just put on a play. Starting in the fall, we work on communicating and acting skills [...by] practicing to speak slowly, loudly [and while] looking at people, putting feelings on our faces and voices and trying to recognize [them] on others. These are much tougher skills than we think they are and need to be taught, worked on and nurtured."

Beyond the technical aspect of the minimusical, there are practical and other benefits that lend itself to the format. "We work in choral character teams," she said. "[Instead of] one student playing each part, it's played at the same time by two, three or four kids. [This means that] if somebody is absent, it is not a destruction of the play and we can still survive. Even more than that, those who are nervous or [unsure] have someone standing next to and supporting them."

Well done!